Photo: NHL via Getty Images

Washington Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette met with media prior to the Capitals game against the Devils Thursday night at the Prudential Center. The team did not hold a game day morning skate this morning in New Jersey.

Laviolette said that Vitek Vanecek will get the start in goal for the Capitals. Connor McMichael will make his second consecutive start.

Vitek Vanecek will be in net tonight against New Jersey, per Laviolette.

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 21, 2021

Last season, Washington recorded eight wins against New Jersey, marking the first time in franchise history the Capitals beat an opponent eight times in one season. It marked the 13th time since the expansion era (1967-68) a team beat an opponent eight times in a season, and the first time since 2007-08 (Montreal Canadiens: eight wins versus the Boston Bruins). The Capitals outscored the Devils 32-19 last season.

Connor McMichael will also be in the lineup again, per Laviolette.

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 21, 2021

In his last 10 games against New Jersey, Alex Ovechkin has 10 goals and 13 points, including four multi-point games during that span. John Carlson, who played for the New Jersey Rockets in the Atlantic Youth Hockey League, has more points against the Devils (7g, 29a) than any other team in the NHL. Trevor van Riemsdyk was born in Middletown, New Jersey, and has two assists in 12 career games against the Devils.

The Capitals lines for tonight’s tilt with the Devils:

#Caps‘ lines/pairs in NJ:
8-Ovechkin, 92-Kuznetsov, 43-Wilson
39-Mantha, 20-Eller, 10-Sprong
73-Sheary, 24-McMichael, 77-Oshie
62-Hagelin, 26-Dowd, 21-Hathaway

42-Fehervary, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 3-Jensen
57-van Riemsdyk, 2-Schultz

Vanecek vs. Wedgewood. #CapsDevils #ALLCAPS

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) October 21, 2021

New Jersey Devils

Goaltender Jonathan Bernie and Forward Jack Hughes will not play tonight for the Devils.

Devils announce that Jack Hughes dislocated his left shoulder in the game Tuesday. He doesn’t need surgery at this time. He will be re-evaluated next week to determine a timeline. He has been placed on injured reserve.

— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) October 21, 2021

Bernier is out with a lower-body injury. The Devils have recalled Nico Daws from Utica and he’ll join Scott Wedgewood as the goalie tandem against the Capitals tonight at Prudential Center.

Goals Allowed

The Capitals have allowed two goals at five-on-five this season, the lowest amount among teams with at least three games played. Over his first two games of the season, goaltender Vitek Vanecek is 1-0-1 with 1.44 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage. Vanecek has stopped all 28 shots he’s faced in the first two periods of both games he has started (NY Rangers and Tampa Bay) and has stopped 33 of the 34 shots he’s faced at five-on-five (.971 save percentage).

By Jon Sorensen